Electrical connector with latch

Abstract

An electrical connector may retain a substrate in secure, mating engagement with the electrical connector. The electrical connector can include at least one attachment member that is configured to be received in an aperture that extends through the substrate.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. An electrical cable connector configured to be mated to a substrate along a mating direction, the electrical cable connector comprising:
 a connector housing defining a housing body that has a front end that defines a mating interface, the connector housing further defining a receptacle that extends into the front end so as to at least partially define the mating interface, wherein the receptacle is elongate along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the mating direction, the receptacle is sized to receive a front edge of the substrate, and the connector housing defines a pocket that extends into the housing body and defines a base that at least partially defines the pocket; 
 a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector housing, the electrical contacts defining mating ends that are configured to electrically connect to electrical contact pads carried by at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the substrate when the mating interface receives the substrate, the electrical contacts defining mounting ends that are disposed opposite the mating ends and are configured to electrically connect to respective cables; and 
 at least one latch member at least partially disposed in the pocket, the latch member including a latch arm that carries a lock member, the latch member pivotable about a pivot axis in 1) an attachment direction that causes the lock member to move into the aperture when the substrate is fully received in the receptacle, and 2) a detachment direction that removes the lock member from the aperture, 
 wherein the at least one latch member further includes a handle and a pivot member disposed between the latch arm and the handle, the pivot member is pivotally mounted to the housing body about the pivot axis, and the pivot axis extends along the lateral direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein depressing the handle toward the base causes the at least one latch member to pivot in the detachment direction. 
     
     
       3. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one latch member comprises a resilient flexible spring member that extends from the handle along toward the base, such that the spring member compresses against the base as the latch member pivots in the detachment direction, the spring member biasing the at least one latch member to pivot in the attachment direction. 
     
     
       4. The electrical cable connector of  claim 3 , wherein the pocket is a first pocket, and the at least one latch member is a first latch member, the electrical connector further defining a second pocket that extends into the housing body and defines a base and at least one side wall that extends from the base of the second pocket, and a second latch member at least partially disposed in the second pocket, the second latch member including a latch arm that carries a lock member, the second latch member movable in 1) an attachment direction that causes the lock member to move into the aperture when the substrate is fully received in the receptacle, and 2) a detachment direction that removes the lock member from the aperture. 
     
     
       5. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the second latch member further includes a handle and a pivot member disposed between the latch arm of the second latch member and the handle of the second latch member, and the pivot member of the second latch member is pivotally mounted to the housing body about the pivot axis, such that the second latch member is pivotable about the pivot axis in the attachment direction and the detachment direction. 
     
     
       6. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 5 , wherein all of the plurality of electrical contacts are disposed between the first and second latch members. 
     
     
       7. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the housing body defines first and second opposed sides, the first latch member is disposed between the first side and the plurality of electrical contacts, and the second latch member is disposed between the second side and the plurality of electrical contacts. 
     
     
       8. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing body further comprises at least one side wall that extends from the base, the at least one side wall further at least partially defining the pocket, and the pivot member is pivotally attached to the at least one side wall. 
     
     
       9. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the housing body comprises a pair of side walls that extend from the base, each of the pair of side walls at least partially defining the pocket, and the pivot member is pivotally attached to each of the pair of side walls. 
     
     
       10. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is spaced rearward from the front end of the connector housing, and the latch member is pivotal about the pivot axis. 
     
     
       11. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing body defines a top end and the pocket extends into the top end, and the handle is spaced above the top end when the latch member is in an attached position, such that the lock member is inserted in the aperture when the substrate is fully received in the receptacle. 
     
     
       12. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the latch arm extends forward from the front end of the housing body such that the lock member is spaced forward from the front end of the housing body along the mating direction. 
     
     
       13. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the latch arm defines an inner end that is disposed proximate to the pivot member, and an outer end that is spaced in the mating direction from the inner end, and the lock member extends from the outer end of the latch arm. 
     
     
       14. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the lock member defines a beveled leading engagement surface configured to cam over a leading edge of the substrate as the electrical connector is mated to the substrate. 
     
     
       15. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the lock member further defines a trailing engagement surface that is further angularly offset with respect to the leading engagement surface, and is configured to mechanically interfere with the substrate so as to limit movement of substrate relative to the electrical connector in a direction opposite the mating direction. 
     
     
       16. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts comprises a plurality of electrical power contacts and a plurality of electrical signal contacts. 
     
     
       17. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the electrical power contacts are configured to be mounted to a respective plurality of electrical power cables, and the electrical signal contacts are configured to be mounted to a respective plurality of electrical signal cables. 
     
     
       18. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the electrical power contacts are configured to mount to the plurality of power cables that each define a first diameter, the electrical signal contacts are configured to mount to the plurality of electrical cables that each define a second diameter, and the second diameter is less than the first diameter. 
     
     
       19. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mating ends of the electrical contacts are configured to straddle the substrate when the electrical connector is mated with the substrate. 
     
     
       20. An electrical cable connector configured to be mated to a substrate along a mating direction, the electrical cable connector comprising:
 a connector housing defining a housing body that has a front end that defines a mating interface, the housing body further having a top end, the connector housing further defining a receptacle that extends into the front end so as to at least partially define the mating interface, the receptacle sized to receive a front edge of the substrate, wherein the connector housing defines a pocket that extends into the top end of the housing body, and the connector housing further defines a base that at least partially defines the pocket; 
 a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector housing, the electrical contacts defining mating ends that are configured to electrically connect to electrical contact pads carried by at least one of top and bottom surfaces of the substrate when the mating interface receives the substrate, the electrical contacts defining mounting ends that are disposed opposite the mating ends and are configured to electrically connect to respective cables; and 
 at least one latch member at least partially disposed in the pocket, the latch member including a latch arm that carries a lock member, a handle, and a pivot member disposed between the latch arm and the handle, the latch member movable in 1) an attachment direction that causes the lock member to move into the aperture when the substrate is fully received in the receptacle, and 2) a detachment direction that removes the lock member from the aperture, wherein the handle is spaced above the top end when the latch member is in an attached position, such that the lock member is inserted in the aperture when the substrate is fully received in the receptacle, 
 wherein the pivot member is pivotally mounted to the housing body about a pivot axis that is spaced rearward from the front end of the connector housing, and is substantially perpendicular to the mating direction, such that the latch member is pivotable about the pivot axis in the attachment direction and the detachment direction. 
 
     
     
       21. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 20 , wherein depressing the handle toward the base causes the at least one latch member to pivot about the pivot axis in the detachment direction. 
     
     
       22. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the at least one latch member comprises a resilient flexible spring member that extends from the handle along toward the base, such that the spring member compresses against the base as the latch member pivots in the detachment direction, the spring member biasing the at least one latch member to pivot in the attachment direction. 
     
     
       23. The electrical cable connector as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the latch arm extends forward from the front end of the housing body such that the lock member is spaced forward from the front end of the housing body along the mating direction.